Bumgarner, Giants eye sweep of Nationals

Madison Bumgarner didn't have the type of start he anticipated the last time out and looks to redeem himself Wednesday versus the Washington Nationals at AT&T Park.

In a 10-9 setback at Colorado last Friday, Bumgarner yielded a career-high
nine runs -- seven earned -- and eight hits, including a grand slam, in 4 2/3
innings to fall to 4-2 in nine starts with a 3.09 ERA. Bumgarner has lost two
of his previous three outings since going 3-0 with a 1.55 ERA in his initial
six appearances.

Bumgarner, a left-hander, has allowed 13 runs over his past three starts and
is 1-2 with a 6.62 ERA in that time. He owns a 2-2 mark to go along with a
3.00 ERA in four career starts against the Nationals.

San Francisco targets a sweep of the Nationals after taking the first two
portions of this set, including Tuesday's 4-2 win in 10 innings. Pablo
Sandoval was the hero with a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the
10th and Gregor Blanco collected three hits, an RBI and a run scored. Blanco's
RBI triple in the ninth sent the game into extra innings.

In a battle between two of the NL's top right-handers, Giants hurler Matt Cain
did not receive a decision and delivered seven innings of two-run ball. He
also struck out seven, while Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg allowed one run
through seven innings and also fanned seven batters.

"Facing each other, we thought it'd be a close game," said Cain. "Thought it
would come down to the guy who made the most mistakes."

Jeremy Affeldt picked up the win with a scoreless inning of relief.

The Giants are tied with Arizona atop the NL West standings and have won back-
to-back games since a three-game slide. They will host Colorado for three
games over the weekend.

Washington will close out its 10-game western jaunt Wednesday and is 3-6 so
far on the journey. It has lost four in a row and Yunesky Maya was dealt the
loss last night after Sandoval's homer.

Ian Desmond had two hits and an RBI and Ryan Zimmerman drove in a run for the
Nationals, who dropped to 4 1/2 games behind Atlanta for the NL East lead.

Blanco sent a hit over the head of Nats outfielder Bryce Harper in right,
allowing Andres Torres to race around the bases for the game-tying run in the
ninth inning.

"I didn't want to hit the wall, for one," said Harper, who hesitated on the
hit because of running into the wall last week in Los Angeles. "Of course it
crosses your mind after you jam into a wall."

The Nationals will return to D.C. tonight for a five-game homestand versus the
Phillies and Orioles.

Taking the mound for the Nationals Wednesday will be Gio Gonzalez. The lefty
has recorded two straight no-decisions and previously was in action Friday in
a 6-5 win at San Diego. He was reached for three runs, two of which were
earned, in 6 2/3 innings and is 3-2 in nine starts with a 4.01 ERA.

Gonzalez, who threw seven shutout innings in a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on
May 12, is 2-2 with a 3.26 ERA in five career starts against the Giants.

Washington claimed five of the six meetings against San Francisco last season,
although the lone loss did come at AT&T Park.